Collingwood council has declared phase two of the arts and culture centre project officially a go.
During a meeting on July 18, council was asked to choose between two options: stick with Nordicity for the next step, or look for a new consultant to continue the feasibility study follow-up.
There was unanimous support from council for the option to keep the same consultant, which was presented as the lower-cost and faster option.
Nordicity was the consulting group charged with the feasibility study (phase one) for the potential arts centre, the results of which were brought to council in October, 2021. The study presented a "high-level" picture of what an arts centre in town could look like, and a price range between $16 million and $49 million.
The second phase will include building on the findings of the feasibility study by further specifying the market, operational, financial, economic and social impacts of an arts facility. Nordicity will also be tasked with recommending what the space should include.
"The results of phase two will determine the site, size, and scope of the arts and culture centre," states the staff report presented to council on July 18.
In addition to the staff report, council heard from Collingwood resident Jim Roe who argued an arts centre was not only good for the town's arts and culture community, but would prove to be an economic driver for the town.
"We badly need a professionally-equipped theatre and arts centre," said Roe, repeating the statement later in his deputation. "The arts reap many benefits for people, towns, and are very good for business. I am not just speaking of societal benefits, there are proven economic benefits as well."
He quoted studies including one by the Ontario Arts Council in 2021 that stated arts and culture directly contributes $27.5 billion annually to the provincial economy.
"To me, the question is not whether we should build a professionally-equipped theatre and arts centre, the question is how soon can we get shovels in the ground, and why can't it be next spring?" said Roe.
Coun. Chris Carrier asked Dean Collver, director of parks, recreation and culture for a timeline for the project, but Collver said he was "loath" to predict a construction timeline this early in the process.
Phase two is expected to take between five and six months, and council has allocated $100,000 toward the follow-up to the feasibility study, though Collver said that's likely more than the town will spend for this phase.
The third phase of the project will be the design-build stage, including designing the facility and fundraising.
The actual cost of the project is not yet estimated as the details of what will be included in the arts centre are still to be determined through phase two.
"The initial feasibility study indicated a range of options ... this phase will narrow down and bullseye the what," said Collver.
There's also the question of the annual operations funding model, and how much the centre will cost the town to run each year.
"We hope to refine the funding model further... and operating model ... because that will, I'm sure, play into council's decisions about going into the next phase," said Collver.
He noted the project is still going to depend on funding and fundraising, and will require community buy-in.
Councillors said they were eager to see the project advance.
Coun. Deb Doherty recalled community members attempting to have an arts centre built in town in the late 1980s. Coun. Yvonne Hamlin said she was glad to take the next step toward an arts centre in the community.
To read the latest staff report on the matter, click here.
